U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The nomination was announced on July 16.
According to a press release from the White House, Hutchins, of Indiana, currently serves as the global leader of integrated field sciences for Corteva Agriscience and as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
Previously, he served as the president of the Entomological Society of America.
Hutchins’ nomination was applauded by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, according to a report on the Devdiscourse website. “I am very excited by the selection of Dr. Hutchins for this leadership role at USDA. His extensive background in research and commitment to sound science and data make him exceptionally qualified for this post, and I am eager to have Dr. Hutchins join the team,” Perdue said.
According to the UNL website, Hutchins’ honors include:
- Recipient of 1985 North Central Branch of the ESA Student Competition Award (Winner, Popularization of Entomology Category).
- Recipient of 1986 North Central Branch of the ESA Student Competition Award (Winner, Teaching Entomology Category).
- Recipient of 1987 North Central Branch of the ESA Student Competition Award (Winner, Doctoral Research Category).
- Recipient of 1987 John Henry Comstock Outstanding Graduate Student.
- Selected as Outstanding Young Alumnus, Iowa State University, 1997.
- Elected to Entomological Society of America as President (2007). Has served on the Governing Board since 2000.
- Elected as a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America (2009)
Hutchins earned a bachelor of science degree in entomology from Auburn University, a master of arts degree from Mississippi State University and a PhD from Iowa State University.
Hutchins’ nomination must be approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, serves as chairman of that committee.
